Eagle Award Wnners Announced

The winners of the 2008 Eagle Awards have been announced, and with the results comes news that this year was a record-breaking one, with well over 12,000 voters participating.

Continuing to expand their worldwide penetration, organisers say the 2008 awards took on even more of an international flavour. Apart from Britain, the USA and Canada, ballots flooded in from more than 100 countries. Among them were several in Europe as well as Afghanistan, Botswana, Egypt, India, North Korea, Russia, Thailand, Uruguay, Vietnam and Zimbabwe to name but a few.

As in previous years, voting in many categories was very tight with nominees running neck and neck. In some instances, the race for the top spot was only decided by the final few votes cast; in one case there were only five votes in it while, in another category, the winner came out ahead by just 23 votes.

A highlight of the Bristol International Comic Expo, the Eagle Awards results for 2007 were announced at a presentation and dinner held at The Ramada Plaza Hotel, Bristol on Saturday, 10 May 2008, which are as follows:

Roll of Honour – Mike Mignola
Creator of Hellboy and all round comics genius

Favourite Newcomer Writer – Matt Fraction
American comic book writer, and co-founder of Artbomb and Savant, Matt describes winning the award as "brainmelting and great and humbling. Thanks to everyone that voted."

Favourite Newcomer Artist – David Aja
A Spanish comics artist whose work includes X-Men Unlimited, Daredevil and Immortal Iron Fist Vol. 1: The last Iron Fist Story

Favourite Comics Writer – Alan Moore
Some beardy old bloke (don't put me in your cellar, Alan!)

Favourite Comics Writer/Artist – Alan Davis
Artist on Excalibur, ClanDestine, JLA the Nail, this Alan does not have a beard.

Favourite Comics Artist: Pencils – Frank Cho
comic strip and comic book creator, writer, and illustrator, best known for his series Liberty Meadows.

Favourite Comics Artist: Inks – D’Israeli (Matt Brooker)
Matt says he'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who voted for him. "Being nominated was more than I'd anticipated; actually winning was just beyond all expectation. It's pleasantly startling to know that my work made an impression of this kind."
Talking of Matt, he's has posted his photo report on this year's Bristol Comics Expo where the awards were announced on his Flickr site and his blog has several items on the Festival, too. "I've tried to do it as an overview for people who don't go to the show (or even follow comics that much) so there's not really any personal diary-type stuff in there," he says.

Favourite Artist: Fully-Painted Artwork – Alex Ross
Best known for Marvels and Kingdom Come, now working on a new Avengers/Invaders story for Marvel.

Favourite Colourist – Laura Martin
Laura's many credits include Planetary, Astonishing X-Men, JLA, Ruse, Serenity: Those Left Behind and Universe X, among others. She has also worked on original graphic novels such as JLA: Heaven's Ladder and JLA: Earth 2.

Favourite Letterer – Dave Gibbons
Because there are only so many times he can win favourite artist, writer etc., I suppose...

Favourite Editor – Tharg (Matt Smith)

Favourite Publisher – Marvel

Favourite Colour Comicbook: American – Hellboy: Darkness Calls

Favourite Colour Comicbook: British – Spectacular Spider-Man
Panini beats out 2000AD and other British comics for this year's award, a deserved win for this originated title which includes scripts by Ferg Handley.

Favourite Black and White Comicbook: American – The Walking Dead

Favourite Black and White Comicbook: British – How to Date a Girl in 10 Days

Favourite New Comicbook – Thor
J. Michael Straczynski has been doing some great stuff on this latest incarnation of Marvel's version of the Norse god.

Favourite Manga – Death Note
As opposed to Sick Note, which would be a silly title for a comic.

Favourite European Comics – Requiem, Vampire Knight
By 2000AD's Pat Mills.

Favourite Comics Story published during 2007 – Captain America 25-30: Death of Captain America

Favourite Comics Cover published during 2007 – World War Hulk 1A (David Finch)

Favourite Original Graphic Novel – The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier
Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's terrific title. Buy it.

Favourite Reprint Compilation – Absolute Sandman volume 2

Favourite Comics Hero – Batman

Favourite Comics Villain – The Joker

Favourite Magazine About Comics – Wizard

Favourite Comics-Related Book – Our Gods wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes

Favourite Comics-Based Movie Or TV – 300

Favourite Comics Related Website – Marvel.com

Favourite Web-Based Comic – The Order of the Stick

• Nominating forms for next year’s Eagle Awards will be ready for publication early January. Magazines wishing to run the forms and websites wanting to host links are invited to contact Cassandra Conroy at: eagleawards@btconnect.com